Washington: US President Donald Trump met Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado at the White House on Wednesday, a high profile meeting that highlighted the uncertainty surrounding Washington’s approach to Venezuela after recent political upheaval in the country.
Machado, who won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her role in promoting democratic change in Venezuela, used the meeting to press for stronger US backing for a democratic transition.
During the visit, she presented Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize medal as a symbolic gesture of gratitude for what she described as his support for the Venezuelan people. The Nobel committee later clarified that the prize officially remains with Machado and cannot be transferred.
The meeting came at a sensitive moment in US Venezuela relations. Earlier this month, former president Nicolás Maduro was captured during a US backed operation, leading to the formation of an interim government headed by Delcy Rodríguez. Trump has publicly praised Rodríguez for her willingness to cooperate with Washington, particularly on energy and economic matters, and has suggested that stability and oil supplies remain key US priorities.
At the same time, Trump has expressed doubts about Machado’s ability to unite political forces inside Venezuela. While welcoming her gesture and acknowledging her international standing, he has questioned whether she has sufficient domestic support to play a leading role in the country’s next phase.
Machado also held meetings with members of the US Congress, urging lawmakers to maintain pressure for free elections and human rights protections. She has been barred from running for office in Venezuela, a restriction she says underscores the need for continued international involvement.
Analysts say the White House meeting reflects a balancing act in US policy, combining public support for democratic ideals with pragmatic engagement with Venezuela’s interim authorities. The mixed signals have raised questions among opposition supporters about how far Washington is willing to go in backing political change.
For now, the talks have underscored the complexity of Venezuela’s transition, with competing visions for the country’s future and the United States weighing strategic interests alongside calls for democracy.